Skylanders Named Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year;
Hot Topic Nabs Best Retailer of the Year for The Hunger Games

June 18, 2013, LAS VEGAS, NV – The top licensed properties and products of the past year have earned their highest honors: International Licensing Excellence Awards from the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA). Skylanders by Activision Publishing, Inc. was named Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year and Hot Topic received the Best Retailer of the Year Award for The Hunger Games. This year’s 15 Awards recipients were chosen from a ballot of stellar nominees via an industry-wide search and determined by a vote of LIMA’s membership. The winners of the industry’s most prestigious annual Awards were announced tonight at the LIMA Awards Ceremony during Licensing Expo 2013.

“It was a tough competition this year, as there were so many wonderful licensed properties and programs from all around the world to choose from – and our members rose to the challenge with a list of deserving honorees,” said LIMA President Charles Riotto. “The 2013 Award winners delivered outstanding entertainment value to consumers on a global scale, while helping to lead licensing industry growth for the second consecutive year.”

LIMA’s International Licensing Excellence Awards honor the best, most successful licensed properties, products and campaigns in five distinct categories: Art or Design; Character or Toy Brand; Corporate Brand; Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment; and Sports. In addition, awards are presented for the Best Licensed Promotion of the Year, Best Retailer of the Year and Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year.

The latest crop of Awards winners (listed by category) are:

ART OR DESIGN

• Best Art or Design Program of the Year
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar/The World of Eric Carle (by Eric Carle Studio/The Joester Loria Group)
• Best Art or Design Licensee of the Year
  • Kids Preferred for The Very Hungry Caterpillar/The World of Eric Carle)

CHARACTER OR TOY BRAND

• Best Character or Toy Brand Program of the Year
  • Skylanders (by Activision Publishing, Inc.)
• Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee of the Year – Hard Goods
  • LEGO (for Marvel Super Heroes)
• Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee of the Year – Soft Goods
  • Alfred Angelo (for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings)

CORPORATE BRAND

• Best Corporate Brand Program of the Year
  • HGTV HOME (by HGTV HOME/Beanstalk)
• Best Corporate Brand Licensee of the Year
  • Sherwin-Williams (for HGTV HOME)

FILM, TELEVISION, CELEBRITY, OR ENTERTAINMENT

• Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Program of the Year
  • Marvel’s The Avengers (by The Walt Disney Company/Marvel Entertainment)
• Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Licensee of the Year – Hard Goods
  • CVS/Pharmacy (for NUANCE Salma Hayek)
• Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Licensee of the Year – Soft Goods
  • Vans (for Yo Gabba Gabba!)

SPORTS

• Best Sports Program of the Year
  • National Basketball Association
• Best Sports Licensee of the Year
  • Junk Food Clothing Co. (for Vintage NFL)

PROMOTION

• Best Licensed Promotion of the Year
• 50 Years the Art of Soup: Campbell Soup Company (for Andy Warhol at Target)

RETAILER

• Best Retailer of the Year
  • Hot Topic (for The Hunger Games)

OVERALL BEST LICENSED PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

• Skylanders (by Activision Publishing, Inc.)

For a full list of this year’s nominees and more information about our annual Awards program, visit the LIMA website, www.licensing.org.

About LIMA

Founded in 1985, the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) is the primary trade organization for the worldwide licensing industry. LIMA’s mission is to bring together all segments of the industry for the advancement of professionalism in licensing through research, national and international seminars, trade events and publications. With members in 35 countries, offices in New York, London, Munich, Tokyo and Hong Kong, and representatives in Australia, India, Italy, Korea, Spain and Turkey, members enjoy access to a wide variety of activities, resources and benefits. For more information on LIMA sponsored trade shows, educational programming, networking opportunities and more, please visit www.licensing.org. To learn more about LIMANET, the most complete network of Property Information and Licensing Professionals online, please visit www.limanet.com.

LIMA is a proud supporter of the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. To learn more about how to join LIMA in standing up for the bravest, visit www.licensing.org/about/lima-cares and “like” LIMA Cares on Facebook